WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today shared the following response to the administration’s announcement it will take a comprehensive review of the potential domestic and global ramifications of a major increase in liquid natural gas (LNG) export capacity before granting approval for more facilities.

The White House announcement comes after years of King warning against “subsidizing Chinese manufacturing” by exporting natural gas to our adversaries without studying how it could be counterproductive for America’s domestic energy costs. The move could also undermine the nation’s competitive advantage as a major natural gas producer.

Upon hearing of the White House decision, King said:

“The Administration has taken the responsible step by pausing approval of new LNG export facilities until it conducts a more thorough review and better understands the full impacts of additional export terminals. The United States is already the world’s largest exporter of natural gas. Since 2016 U.S. exports of LNG have increased by over 2,300%. After such an incredible increase, it only makes sense to review the impacts on consumers, the environment and domestic manufacturing as required by law before determining if additional exports are in the national interest.

 “The point here is to look before we leap — to gather the necessary data to be sure the proposed projects don’t compromise the interest of our own citizens.

“In addition to looking at the climate impacts, I urge the Department of Energy to carefully examine the role of long-term Chinese contracts play in financing these facilities. While U.S. LNG has helped our European allies in the face of Russian aggression, we must make sure that we aren’t outsourcing American manufacturing competitiveness to China, or other nations of concern.”

Senator King has consistently worked to help lower energy prices for Maine people. In a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, he spoke out against increasing exports of LNG. Last year, amid Russia’s continued disruptions to global energy markets, Senator King wrote a letter to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm urging her to work with key stakeholders and local governments to mitigate the risk of price hikes and shortages of natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and heating oil.

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